With travel worldwide in the midst of a resurge following more than two years of global uncertainty, travelers have understandably developed high expectations for their long-awaited trips. Joy Ghosh, head of commercial, hospitality, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Amadeus, explains how tech innovations are enhancing the travel experience in 2023.

At Amadeus, we see four powerful trends emerging that will impact the travel industry over the coming months in unique and innovative ways.

New experiences in a new universe
Perhaps the most significant of these trends is the evolution of the metaverse, a term which, for some of us, may conjure up images of simulated worlds visited through gaming or other virtual reality platforms. In 2023, however, the metaverse – the merging of virtual, augmented and physical reality – will influence many aspects of our everyday lives, including the ways in which we fulfill our travel dreams. Through virtual tourism, travelers will be able to enjoy deeper, sometimes more exciting cultural experiences, such as virtual concerts and exhibitions or 3D virtual theme park visits or cruises.
Technologies such as those developed by Amadeus’ Airline Digital Innovation team, which allow people to get a complete idea of a travel experience before they actually buy a ticket, are among the latest trends.
People will no longer have to rely on search engines for travel ideas – instead, thanks to conversational AI, they can obtain personalized travel inspiration.

Data as a cornerstone for strategic growth
The most valuable commodity for hoteliers in this day and age is, undoubtedly, data. Knowing how to use it to drive demand, understand trends and stay ahead of the competition is critical for those who intend to develop strong revenue strategies. For this reason, it’s essential to have a hospitality business intelligence suite (software solution), such as Amadeus Hotel Business Intelligence Solutions, which can give decision-makers a complete overview of rates, occupancy and distribution trends, allowing them to develop creative media plans, support sustainability measures and maximize the value of each traveler. Forward-looking data, including on-the-books occupancy and rate information, will enable hoteliers to easily maximize opportunities and build the right strategies at the right time.

Biometric solutions for a smoother experience
Biometrics — fin-tech (financial technology) solutions of voice, fingerprint, handprint or facial recognition payment systems — have been with us for a while. However, these solutions have recently undergone a significant development within the travel industry and beyond, driven by a demand among travelers for smoother and more secure payment experiences and faster, more streamlined processes during trips, such as when checking in at a hotel or airport, or using rental car services.
Against this backdrop, biometric solutions have become a critical facility at airports, offering touch-free and stress-free touchpoints for customers, including bag drop, security and lounge access. Cameras located at each stage of a traveler’s journey through the airport ensure a safe end-to-end experience for the passenger.
The same goes for Departure Control Systems (DCSs), where they enable better connectivity between airports and airlines, which, in turn, improves airport operations by enhancing security and increasing passenger-handling capacity.

Hospitality also stands to benefit
Biometric applications are also making their presence felt in hospitality settings. When hoteliers integrate biometrics into the hotel’s management system, they not only improve convenience and efficiency for their guests, but also provide opportunities to enhance security and create smoother overall operations for the business. Casinos, restaurants, theme parks and other entertainment venues are also recognizing the benefits of biometrics, developing solutions that provide access to certain areas and identify guests, linking visitors to tickets, events or reservations.
Innovation is helping to create a bright outlook for the industry in 2023. The more hoteliers are able to incorporate these new trends and technology solutions into their overall business plans, the better off they will be in terms of delivering memorable experiences and preserving the loyalty of their customers.